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Bavo F, de-Jong H, Petersen J, Falk-Petersen CB, Löffler R, Sparrow E, Rostrup F, Eliasen JN, Wilhelmsen KS, Barslund K, Bundgaard C, Nielsen B, Kristiansen U, Wellendorph P, Bogdanov Y, Frølund B. Structure-Activity Studies of 3,9-Diazaspiro[5.5]undecane-Based γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Antagonists with Immunomodulatory Effect. J Med Chem 2021; 64:17795-17812. [PMID: 34908407 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The 3,9-diazaspiro[5.5]undecane-based compounds 2027 and 018 have previously been reported to be potent competitive γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAAR) antagonists showing low cellular membrane permeability. Given the emerging peripheral application of GABAAR ligands, we hypothesize 2027 analogs as promising lead structures for peripheral GABAAR inhibition. We herein report a study on the structural determinants of 2027 in order to suggest a potential binding mode as a basis for rational design. The study identified the importance of the spirocyclic benzamide, compensating for the conventional acidic moiety, for GABAAR ligands. The structurally simplified m-methylphenyl analog 1e displayed binding affinity in the high-nanomolar range (Ki = 180 nM) and was superior to 2027 and 018 regarding selectivity for the extrasynaptic α4βδ subtype versus the α1- and α2- containing subtypes. Importantly, 1e was shown to efficiently rescue inhibition of T cell proliferation, providing a platform to explore the immunomodulatory potential for this class of compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Bavo
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Heleen de-Jong
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jonas Petersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christina Birkedahl Falk-Petersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rebekka Löffler
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Emma Sparrow
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, MP127, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, Hants SO16 6YD, United Kingdom
| | - Frederik Rostrup
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jannik Nicklas Eliasen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kristine S Wilhelmsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper Barslund
- Translational DMPK, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, 2500 Valby, Denmark
| | | | - Birgitte Nielsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Uffe Kristiansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yury Bogdanov
- Antibody and Vaccine Group, Centre for Cancer Immunology, MP127, University of Southampton Faculty of Medicine, Southampton, Hants SO16 6YD, United Kingdom
| | - Bente Frølund
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Lie MEK, Falk-Petersen CB, Piilgaard L, Griem-Krey N, Wellendorph P, Kornum BR. GABA A receptor β 1 -subunit knock-out mice show increased delta power in NREM sleep and decreased theta power in REM sleep. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 54:4445-4455. [PMID: 33942407 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) acting through heteropentameric GABAA receptors plays a pivotal role in the sleep-promoting circuitry. Whereas the role of the different GABAA receptor α-subunits in sleep regulation and in mediating the effect of benzodiazepines for treatment of insomnia is well-described, the β-subunits are less studied. Here we report the first study characterizing sleep in mice lacking the GABAA receptor β1 -subunit (β1 -/- mice). We show that β1 -/- mice have a distinct and abnormal sleep phenotype characterized by increased delta power in non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep and decreased theta activity in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep compared to β1 +/+ mice, without any change in the overall sleep-wake architecture. From GABAA receptor-specific autoradiography, it is further demonstrated that functional β1 -subunit-containing GABAA receptors display the highest binding levels in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. In conclusion, this study suggests that the GABAA receptor β1 -subunit does not play an important role in sleep initiation or maintenance but instead regulates the power spectrum and especially the expression of theta rhythm. This provides new knowledge on the complex role of GABAA receptor subunits in sleep regulation. In addition, β1 -/- mice could provide a useful mouse model for future studies of the physiological role of delta and theta rhythms during sleep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elena Klibo Lie
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Louise Piilgaard
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nane Griem-Krey
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Birgitte Rahbek Kornum
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Dalby NO, Falk-Petersen CB, Leurs U, Scholze P, Krall J, Frølund B, Wellendorph P. Silencing of spontaneous activity at α4β1/3δ GABA A receptors in hippocampal granule cells reveals different ligand pharmacology. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:3975-3990. [PMID: 32484592 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The δ-subunit-containing GABAA receptors, α4 β1 δ and α4 β3 δ, in dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs) are known to exhibit both spontaneous channel openings (i.e. constitutive activity) and agonist-induced current. The functional implications of spontaneous gating are unclear. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that constitutively active α4 β1/3 δ receptors limit agonist efficacy. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Whole-cell electrophysiological recordings of adult male rat and mouse hippocampal DGGCs were used to characterize known agonists and antagonists at δ-subunit-containing GABAA receptors. To separate constitutive and agonist-induced currents, different recording conditions were employed. KEY RESULTS Recordings at either 24°C or 34°C, including the PKC autoinhibitory peptide (19-36) intracellularly, removed spontaneous gating by GABAA receptors. In the absence of spontaneous gating, DGGCs responded to the α4 β1/3 δ orthosteric agonist Thio-THIP with a four-fold increased efficacy relative to recording conditions favouring constitutive activity. Surprisingly, the neutral antagonist gabazine was unable to antagonize the current by Thio-THIP. Furthermore, a current was elicited by gabazine alone only when the constitutive current was silenced (EC50 2.1 μM). The gabazine-induced current was inhibited by picrotoxin, potentiated by DS2, completely absent in δ-/- mice and reduced in β1 -/- mice, but could not be replicated in human α4 β1/3 δ receptors expressed heterologously in HEK cells. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS Kinase activity infers spontaneous gating in α4 β1/3 δ receptors in DGGCs. This significantly limits the efficacy of GABAA agonists and has implications in pathologies involving aberrant excitability caused by phosphorylation (e.g. addiction and epilepsy). In such cases, the efficacy of δ-preferring GABAA ligands may be reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Ole Dalby
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ulrike Leurs
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petra Scholze
- Department of Pathobiology of the Nervous System, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Jacob Krall
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Frølund
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Falk-Petersen CB, Tsonkov TM, Nielsen MS, Harpsøe K, Bundgaard C, Frølund B, Kristiansen U, Gloriam DE, Wellendorph P. Discovery of a new class of orthosteric antagonists with nanomolar potency at extrasynaptic GABA A receptors. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10078. [PMID: 32572053 PMCID: PMC7308271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-66821-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain GABAΑ receptors are ionotropic receptors belonging to the class of Cys-loop receptors and are important drug targets for the treatment of anxiety and sleep disorders. By screening a compound library (2,112 compounds) at recombinant human α4β1δ GABAΑ receptors heterologously expressed in a HEK cell line, we identified a scaffold of spirocyclic compounds with nanomolar antagonist activity at GABAΑ receptors. The initial screening hit 2027 (IC50 of 1.03 μM) was used for analogue search resulting in 018 (IC50 of 0.088 μM). 018 was most potent at α3,4,5-subunit containing receptors, thus showing preference for forebrain-expressed extrasynaptic receptors. Schild analysis of 018 at recombinant human α4β1δ receptors and displacement of [3H]muscimol binding in rat cortical homogenate independently confirmed a competitive profile. The antagonist profile of 018 was further validated by whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology, where kinetic studies revealed a slow dissociation rate and a shallow hill slope was observed. Membrane permeability studies showed that 2027 and 018 do not cross membranes, thus making the compounds less attractive for studying central GABAΑ receptors effects, but conversely more attractive as tool compounds in relation to emerging peripheral GABAΑ receptor-mediated effects of GABA e.g. in the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Birkedahl Falk-Petersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Tsonko M Tsonkov
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Malene Sofie Nielsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Kasper Harpsøe
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | | | - Bente Frølund
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Uffe Kristiansen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - David E Gloriam
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
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5
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Krall J, Jensen CH, Bavo F, Falk-Petersen CB, Haugaard AS, Vogensen SB, Tian Y, Nittegaard-Nielsen M, Sigurdardóttir SB, Kehler J, Kongstad KT, Gloriam DE, Clausen RP, Harpsøe K, Wellendorph P, Frølund B. Molecular Hybridization of Potent and Selective γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid (GHB) Ligands: Design, Synthesis, Binding Studies, and Molecular Modeling of Novel 3-Hydroxycyclopent-1-enecarboxylic Acid (HOCPCA) and trans-γ-Hydroxycrotonic Acid (T-HCA) Analogs. J Med Chem 2017; 60:9022-9039. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacob Krall
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Hatt Jensen
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Francesco Bavo
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Christina Birkedahl Falk-Petersen
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne Stæhr Haugaard
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Stine Byskov Vogensen
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Yongsong Tian
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mia Nittegaard-Nielsen
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sara Björk Sigurdardóttir
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jan Kehler
- Discovery
Chemistry, H. Lundbeck A/S, Ottiliavej 9, DK-2500 Valby, Denmark
| | - Kenneth Thermann Kongstad
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - David E. Gloriam
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Prætorius Clausen
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kasper Harpsøe
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Petrine Wellendorph
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Frølund
- Department
of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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6
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Klein AB, Bay T, Villumsen IS, Falk-Petersen CB, Marek A, Frølund B, Clausen RP, Hansen HD, Knudsen GM, Wellendorph P. Autoradiographic imaging and quantification of the high-affinity GHB binding sites in rodent brain using 3H-HOCPCA. Neurochem Int 2016; 100:138-145. [PMID: 27615059 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/06/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
GHB (γ-hydroxybutyric acid) is a compound endogenous to mammalian brain with high structural resemblance to GABA. GHB possesses nanomolar-micromolar affinity for a unique population of binding sites, but the exact nature of these remains elusive. In this study we utilized the highly selective GHB analogue, 3-hydroxycyclopent-1-enecarboxylic acid (HOCPCA) as a tritiated version (3H-HOCPCA) to radioactively label the specific GHB high-affinity binding site and gain further insight into the density, distribution and developmental profile of this protein. We show that, in low nanomolar concentrations, 3H-HOCPCA displays excellent signal-to-noise ratios using rodent brain autoradiography, which makes it a valuable ligand for anatomical quantification of native GHB binding site levels. Our data confirmed that 3H-HOCPCA labels only the high-affinity specific GHB binding site, found in high density in cortical and hippocampal regions. The experiments revealed markedly stronger binding at pH 6.0 (Kd 73.8 nM) compared to pH 7.4 (Kd 2312 nM), as previously reported for other GHB radioligands but similar Bmax values. Using 3H-HOCPCA we analyzed the GHB binding protein profile during mouse brain development. Due to the high sensitivity of this radioligand, we were able to detect low levels of specific binding already at E15 in mouse brain, which increased progressively until adulthood. Collectively, we show that 3H-HOCPCA is a highly sensitive radioligand, offering advantages over the commonly used radioligand 3H-NCS-382, and thus a very suitable in vitro tool for qualitative and quantitative autoradiography of the GHB high-affinity site.
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Affiliation(s)
- A B Klein
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - T Bay
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - I S Villumsen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - C B Falk-Petersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A Marek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 16610 6 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - B Frølund
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - R P Clausen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - H D Hansen
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - G M Knudsen
- Neurobiology Research Unit and Center for Integrated Molecular Brain Imaging, Rigshospitalet and University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - P Wellendorph
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
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